We were contacted by residents about a tenant who was living in one of our retirement living properties. Our Tenancy Service Team took the lead on this case, alongside professionals from social services, Age Concern, and the police.
What were the concerns?
We received complaints that related to a range of issues regarding one resident, including shouting, swearing and generally upsetting nearby residents. Some of them felt so uncomfortable, they didn’t feel able to use the communal lounge when the resident was using it.
How did we help?
We worked closely with the partner organisations mentioned above to monitor the complaints and act accordingly and in the best interests of everyone concerned. One of our Tenancy Service Officers in particular played an instrumental role in helping resolve the situation.
He took the time to get to know the tenant and fully understand her needs. In doing so, he realised that the root cause of the tenant’s behaviour stemmed from the fact she needed to be living in supported accommodation.
Meanwhile, the tenant’s behaviour continued, which led to her receiving an injunction* that she went on to breach due to continuing to behave in the same way.
*An injunction is a civil court order designed to stop or prevent a person from engaging in anti-social behaviour. It is a tool used to address issues like harassment, nuisance, or the potential for harm caused by a person's actions.
Keen to help the tenant move into more suitable accommodation, our Tenancy Services Officer scheduled a meeting with the other service providers to reinforce the tenant’s situation and the need for her to live in supported accommodation. He also worked closely with the tenant’s son to help plead the case for her to live in a different type of accommodation near him.
What was the outcome?
Thanks to our Tenancy Services Officer’s persistence to find the right resolution for the tenant, she moved into supported accommodation five minutes away from her son, which she was overjoyed about.
Abdul, the Tenancy Services Officer who worked on this case, said “I was very pleased to help this vulnerable tenant; they were in the wrong setting and needed supported accommodation. I had to take legal action as a last resort alongside safeguarding this resident and the community she lived in. This helped to push the service providers in moving this tenant who is happy in her new setting and the community she was living are also happy. A win-win for everyone.”
Working in partnership
This situation clearly shows the level of partnership working that can be needed when dealing with anti-social behaviour. In this particular case, the tenant had vulnerabilities which meant that multiple parties needed to be involved.
Every anti-social behaviour case is different, and it’s for the relevant professionals, including ourselves, to come together to identify and implement the best possible solution for everyone involved.
If you’re threatened or assaulted, or if you believe a crime is being committed, you must report it to the police immediately.
For more on ASB, including what is classed as ASB and what isn’t, how we can support you and how to report incidents of ASB, take a look at this information.
